Water cooler for refrigerators



March 15; 1927. 1,621,162

F. REEN WATER COOLER F611 13 RRRRRRRRRRR s F. C. GREEN WATER COOLER FOR REFRIGERATORS March 15, 192"?a 1,621,162

Filed Julyz 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 15, 1927.

'uarran stares FRED C. GREEN, OF MORRISON, ILLZNOIS, ASSTGNOR TO'ILL'INOIS REFRIGERATOR GOM- PANY, OF MORRISO'DT, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

WATER coornn roe nnrmennarons.

Application filed July 2,

This invention is a novel improvement in drinking water coolers and has particular reference to water coolers for use in refriger- 1ators,'and includes the construction of the cooler itself and the novel method of installing same within a refrigerator without obstructing the ice or food compartments; that it will be chilled by the ice therein, can be easily filled when desired without removing it.and can be readily used in connection with an inverted bottle by which the water may be automatically supplied to the cooler as it is withdrawn therefrom. further-object is to so install this cooler in the refrigerator that it will not only cool water, but willremove all odors from water, such, as from artesian wells or other sources I of like nature.

I will describe the invention with reference :to the accompanying drawings which illustrate one practical embodiment thereof and :refer to the claims for summaries of the invention and essential features of construction :and novel combinations of parts for which protection is desired. In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator with my novel cooler applied. thereto.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cooler detached.

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 33, Figure 5. v

Figure 4 is a vertical section on the line 44, Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a vertical section on the line 55,'Figure 4, with the bottle and bottle holder removed.

Figure 6 is a detail top plan view of Figure 5.

The refrigerator may be of any suitable construction and-as shown has the usual ice compartment B and food compartment C, and also a smaller food compartment under the ice compartment as usual, and communieating therewith, access to which is had through a door D; and the compartments B and (loan be also closed by doors 115, C, as-u'sual. At the front of the refrigerator, and betweenthe compartments B and G is a vertical stile E which may be of one or more thicknesses of material against which the doors B, (3, D close. The partition 1925. Serial; NO- 141,094.

wall F between compartments Band C has an opening Gv at top for the .passageof air from the food chamber G into fthe ice chamber B. The particularconstruction of the;

refrigerator forms no material part of the present -1nvent1on,.and.1t maybe of any suitable construction; as the invention is not limited to any particular make of refrigera-tor.

The novel water cooler liis preferably. i

oval incross section and, for use in a refrigerator of the type shown, its shortest diameter is preferably less-than the width of thestile E, and such cooler is-placed-in:

the refrigerator in rear of the stilelf], and can be inserted in position through an-opening in the top T of the refrigerator, which opening is of a size to permit the cooler [to be lowered therethrou-gh into position, and.

a gasket 2 which is placed in and around a shoulder T..-at the upper side of theopening in the top T, so that the .top of the cooler is practically flush with .the upper surface of thetop T. The upper end of zthe cooler may be securely positioned in place by means of a collar l su'itably secured, to

the under side of the top T around -the opening therein, as by screws 43. The

cooler is further supported in position by means of lugs 1", on the front' side of :the cooler which are secured to the inner face of the stile E by means ofibolts orscrews 3 as indicated in the drawings. The cooler is also preferably provided on. its rear side with perforated ears 1? which are fastened to the adjacent edge of the partition F by means of screws or bolts 3*. The bottom of the cooler is preferably approximately V- shaped. in cross .section as indicated at 1 in Figure 4:, and-is provided at its cfront side with a nipple '1 which may be engaged by the inner end of a faucet J -'of usual construction, extending, through a suitable opening in the stile I An air space orchamber S is provided at the upper end of the cooler wlithinthe opening in the top T and between the flange 1 and a bottle holder 6 hereinafter referred to,

.This'air chamber is important in the operation of thefcooler. It is desired to main-v tain a higher temperature at the top portion of the cooler (and practically outside of the chambersB and C) than at the lower por-. tion or bottom of'the cooler within and between the chambers B and C. This air r i a metal tube.

chamber S is in communication with the upper end of the ice chamber B by means of a duct 5 in the top of the refrigerator, see- Figure 4, in which duct may be inserted This duct establishes communication between the air chamber S and the ice chamber Band all odors arising from the water as it is being cooled rise up into the chamber S and thence into the ice chamber B, and are condensed or precipitated therein. The construction shown has been made expressly to keep the circulation of air in a given direction so that cooling of the waterwill be gradual from top to bottom, and of such a temperature that the throwing off of odors will take place, and that'the water will be fresh and cold for drinking without taking excess ice for its operation.

The duct 5 also serves an important function in the construction of a refrigerator with a cooler; for if in filling the cooler, any water overflows into the chamber S it is immediately drained out through duct 5,

' and does not penetrate into the wood construction, and thedanger of damaging the top by water is overcome.

Preferably Iemp'l0y in connection with this cooler an inverted water supply'bottle,

' as shown at A and when this is used an inverted water bottle holder 6 is employed,

such water bottle holder being of usual construction and large enough to cover the upper end of the cooler (and having an opening for the neck of the bottle) sur-' rounded by an inwardly depending circular *fiang'e 6*, and by the upwardly extending outwardly flaring flange 6 adapted to hold the inverted bottle in position above the holder, as indicated in Figures 1 and l.

The lugs 1 are of such construction that they can be quickly secured to the wooden stile E as shown," and are so small that the slight chilling of the stile caused thereby will cooler than at their outer faces. 5 ofthis is'to not retard the flow ofair' down not cause sweating of the wood, and they are also smaller at their junctions with the The object along the outer sidesof the cooler. V The air passes down to the bottom of the cooler. The object of the V-shape of bottom of cooler is to'cause all water vapors condensin on or space F between the lower end of the cooler and the partition I; this circulation facilitating the last stage of cooling, and the water will be colder at the. bottom of the cooler, than at any other place in the cooler. I The partition F acts as a bafiler around which air will circulate down through the opening in the partition below the cooler up on the provision chamber side, to the opening Gr above the partition.

In the construction shown the water cooler forms part of the wall betweenthe chambers. It is preferably made of-heavy' cast iron, lined inside with porcelain.

The cooler may be USGCl Wltll or without the bottle holder, but it is much more satisfactory to use the bottle, as it serves as a water gauge and reservoir largely increasmgv the capacity of the cooler.

I do not consider the invention limited to details of construction or to the par tic-ular embodiment thereof, illustrated in the drawings. Essential features of the invention are a cooler built into and forming )art of the partition between the ice and food compartments; a cooler in and forming part of the partition between ice and food compartments of a refrigerator; a cooler. at the front of the refrigerator and immediately behind the center stile; a cooler and an air chamber adjacent the upper end of the cooler to receive odors from the water; and a duct connecting said air 7 chamber and ice chamber; a coolerhaving a bottom of V-shape or the like; and a cooler having an upwardly inclined bottom part on the side opposite the ice chamber and adgacent an opening in the partition through which any cold air from the ice chamber to the provision chamber can pass. I claim; 7 r V 1 l. A water cooling apparatus comprising a refrigerator having food and ice compart-' ments, and an opening in its top; a cooler in the refrigerator having its open upper end registering with said opening, and means for supporting the cooler in the re frigerator beneath the said opening, said means consisting in flaringthe top of the cooler to engage a shoulder in the opening in the top of the refrigerator. 2. A water cooling apparatus comprising a refrigerator having food and ice compartments, and a water cooler supported within the refrigerator between the compartments, said cooler having an angular bottom, the apex of whichis in the ice compartment. I

3. A water cooling apparatus comprisinga refrigerator having an ice compartment, a food compartment, an opening in its top intermediate the compartments, and a: parti tion wall between the compartments provided with an opening in line with the opening in the top; and a water cooler in the refrigerator having anopen upper end registering with the opening in the top, said cooler forming part of the partition between the compartments.

4. In apparatus as set forth in claim 8, the cooler having an angular bottom the apex of which is in the ice compartment, for the purpose specified.

5. In apparatus as set forth in claim 8, the cooler having its upper end flared to engage a shoulder in the opening in the top of the refrigerator.

6. In apparatus as set forth in claim 8, the cooler having an angular bottom the apex of which is in the ice compartment, and having its upper end flared to engage a shoulder in the opening in the top of the refrigerator.

7. A water cooling apparatus comprising a refrigerator having food and ice compartments, and a cooler in the refrigerator; an air chamber at the upper end of the cooler; and a duct connecting this air chamber with the ice chamber.

8. In apparatus as set forth in claim 7 the cooler having an angular bottom the apex of which is in the ice compartment, for the purpose specified.

9. In apparatus as set forth in claim 7 the cooler having its upper end flared to engage a shoulder in the opening in the top of the refrigerator.

10. A water cooling apparatus comprising a refrigerator having adjacent food and ice compartments, and an opening in its top; a cooler having its open upper end registering with said opening, and means for supporting the cooler in the refrigerator beneath the said opening; an air chamber at the upper end of the cooler above the water line; and a duct connecting this air chamber with the ice chamber.

11. In apparatus as set forth in claim 10,

the cooler having an angular bottom the apex of which is in the ice compartment, fo the purpose specified.

- 12. Inapparatus as set forth in claim 10, the cooler having its upper end flared to engage a shoulder in the opening in the top of the refrigerator.

18. In apparatus as set forth in claim 10, the cooler having an angular botttom the opening, and means for fastening the cooler to the stile and partition.

15. Ina refrigerator as set forth in claim let, the cooler having an angular bottom the apex of which is in the ice compartment,

for the purpose specified.

16. In a refrigerator as set forth in claim 14, the cooler having its upper end flared to engage a shoulder in the opening in the top of the refrigerator.

17 In a refrigerator as set forth in claim 14, the cooler having an angular bottom the apex of which is 'in the ice compartment, and having its upper end flared to engage a shoulder in the opening in the top of the refrigerator.

18. A cooler for the purpose specified having an open upper end, an angularbottom, and means for attachment to a support, substantially as described.

. 19. A cooler for the purpose specified having an open upper end, an inclined bottom, and lugs on its front and rear faces for attachment to a support, substantially as described.

20. A cooler for the purpose specified having an outwardly flared open upper end, means for attachment to a support, an approximately V-shaped bottom, and an outlet opening in its front at bottom.

21. A cooler for the purpose specified having an open upper end outwardly flared, lugs on its front and rear for attachment to a support; an approximately V-shaped bottom, and an outlet opening in its front at bottom.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I affix my signature.

FRED c. GREEN. 

